Director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars 2021. The film starring Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad, in lead roles, beat out stiff competition to secure its spot in the Oscars race. According to reports, the film went up against the Amitabh Bachchan-Ayushmann Khurranan starrer 'Gulabo Sitabo', Priyanka Chopra- starrer 'The Sky is Pink', Deepika Padukone’s ‘Chhapaak’, Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Serious Men' and even the Janhvi Kapoor starrer 'Gunjan Saxena'.

The Malayalam film was chosen out of 27 films that also included 'The Disciple', 'Shakuntala Devi', 'Shikara', 'AK vs AK', 'Bhonsle', 'Chhalaang', 'Eeb Allay Ooo!', 'Check Post', 'Atkan Chatkan', 'Kaamyaab', 'Chintu ka Birthday' and 'Bittersweet'.

'Jallikattu' is based on a short story, titled 'Maoist', written by Hareesh S, who also adapted the screenplay along with R. Jayakumar.

This selection makes it the third Malayalam film to be selected as India’s entry in the 'Best International Feature Film' category.

Previously, director Salim Ahamed’s ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’ was selected in 2011 and director Rajiv Anchal’s ‘Guru’ was selected in 1997. Both films, however, didn’t secure a spot on the Academy Awards nominations list.
Should 'Jallikattu' secure its golden ticket to the Oscars, it will be only the 4th Indian film to be nominated in the category.
 

The 93rd Academy Awards was among the many things that got postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show was originally set to be held on February 28. However, citing delays in film releases and the closing of theatres owing to the pandemic, both, the ceremony and eligibility period were postponed by two months.